Issues surrounding child development resonate globally. It’s estimated that approximately 250 million, or 43 percent, of children under the age of 5 in developing nations fail to reach their developmental potential due to factors such as malnutrition, health complications, inadequate stimulation and care, and other poverty-related risks.
Professor Mei Neni Sitaresmi, a Department of Child Health member at the UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, underscored that stunting, a condition stemming from chronic malnutrition and recurrent infections, remains a pressing global concern, including within Indonesia.
Current Ministry of Health data indicates that Indonesia’s stunting prevalence stands at 21.6 percent, with a governmental target to reduce it to 14 percent by 2024.
She emphasized that suboptimal early-life development bears long-term ramifications, including heightened risks of chronic ailments, mental health issues, decreased productivity, and limited job prospects, all of which can affect future generations.
“This issue undoubtedly poses an economic burden for a country. Conversely, as per 2018 World Health Organization data, every 1 US dollar invested in early childhood development programs yields a return of 13 US dollars,” she stated at the UGM Senate Hall on Thursday (Feb. 15).
Professor Sitaresmi delivered these insights during her inauguration as a professor in child health at the UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing.
In her address titled “Nurturing Care Approach in Early Childhood for Life, Growth, and Development Towards Healthy and Productive Humans,” she stressed the pivotal role of early-life child health and development as fundamental building blocks shaping adult health, well-being, and productivity.
“I chose this topic because the health and development of children in early life are crucial foundations that determine health, well-being, and productivity in adulthood,” she said.
As a pediatrician, Professor Sitaresmi revealed that many parents bring their children with complaints of developmental and behavioral problems such as inability to walk, delayed speech, inability to communicate two-way, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, easy irritability, or growth problems, such as difficulty gaining weight, short stature, or eating difficulties.
Therefore, early childhood development is included in target 4.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals, where every boy and girl has the right to quality care, development, and early learning to prepare them for primary education.
According to her, optimizing early childhood development involves creating a secure, responsive environment meeting health and nutritional needs, fostering learning opportunities from a young age, and supporting caregivers.
The 2018 WHO, UNICEF, and World Bank concept of nurturing care for early childhood development is a framework to nurture children into healthy, productive individuals.
Care for Child Development (CCD), a program endorsed by WHO and UNICEF, caters to children aged 0-5 years, integrating nurturing care into existing primary healthcare services.
“CCD is aimed at improving the skills of health workers in supporting caregivers in providing responsive care and activities that support children’s play and exploration, as well as improving communication and interaction between children and caregivers,” she added.
The CCD program has been implemented in 54 developing countries, including Indonesia. In general, it is concluded that CCD has helped increase awareness of program implementation, especially in the health and nutrition sectors in developing countries, regarding strategies to promote early childhood programs.
In the final part of her speech, she reiterated that the period from pregnancy to the first three years of life is sensitive to a child’s development. During this period, positive and negative environmental influences and experiences significantly determine an individual’s health quality and productivity.
Children need a safe, stable, and supportive environment that meets their health and nutrition needs and protects them from threats, dangers, and insecurity. Additionally, providing children with opportunities to learn early and supported by responsive caregivers who offer emotional support and stimulate development is essential.
“Integrated early childhood interventions are cost-effective, and therefore, should be carried out by families with support from the community, including professional communities and the government,” she concluded.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Photographer: Firsto